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Biomolecules
Special Issues
The Value of Natural Compounds as Therapeutic Agents II
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The Value of Natural Compounds as Therapeutic Agents II

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural and Bio-inspired Molecules".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2024 | Viewed by 3432

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Maria Beatrice Morelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Pharmacy, University of Camerino, 62032 Camerino, Italy
Interests: glioblastoma; TRP channel; mucolipins; autophagy; overall survival; transient receptor potential channels; tumor progression; chemotherapy resistance;cancer biology; cancer stem cell; circulating tumor cell; liquid biopsy; biomarkers; ion channel; natural compound; cannabinoids
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Following a very successful first run, we are pleased to announce the launch of a second edition of our Special Issue, entitled “The Value of Natural Compounds as Therapeutic Agents II”.

Naturally occurring substances have long been used by humans for medicinal purposes as concoctions or concentrated extracts. At present, natural products are gaining popularity. A number of pathological conditions have been treated previously with plant-derived medicines, including cancer and inflammation.

Therefore, in this Special Issue, we aim to bring together the opinions of experts and scientists who work on natural compounds to gather information and data about their involvement in a wide variety of biological mechanisms at the cellular level. The Special Issue will predominantly focus on cellular processes, such as proliferation and survival, apoptosis, dormancy, differentiation, autophagy and senescence, migration, and invasion. Additionally, we are keen to publish analyses of soluble mediators involved with microenvironment modulation.

In summary, we would like to emphasize the existing evidence regarding the various potential advantages of plant extracts and plant extract-based products with regard to human health. Therefore, we encourage the submission of manuscripts that utilize structurally defined natural products or their derivatives, or well-characterized mixtures. We welcome original research articles, review articles, and communications.

Dr. Maria Beatrice Morelli
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural compound
  • acute and chronic conditions
  • cell proliferation
  • cell death
  • cell differentiation

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2511 KiB  
Article
Menthol Pretreatment Alleviates Campylobacter jejuni-Induced Enterocolitis in Human Gut Microbiota-Associated IL-10−/− Mice
by Markus M. Heimesaat, Luis Q. Langfeld, Niklas Schabbel, Nizar W. Shayya, Soraya Mousavi and Stefan Bereswill
Biomolecules 2024, 14(3), 290; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14030290 - 29 Feb 2024
Viewed by 860
Abstract
Human Campylobacter jejuni infections are of worldwide importance and represent the most commonly reported bacterial enteritis cases in middle- and high-income countries. Since antibiotics are usually not indicated and the severity of campylobacteriosis is directly linked to the risk of developing post-infectious complications, [...] Read more.
Human Campylobacter jejuni infections are of worldwide importance and represent the most commonly reported bacterial enteritis cases in middle- and high-income countries. Since antibiotics are usually not indicated and the severity of campylobacteriosis is directly linked to the risk of developing post-infectious complications, non-toxic antibiotic-independent treatment approaches are highly desirable. Given its health-promoting properties, including anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory activities, we tested the disease-alleviating effects of oral menthol in murine campylobacteriosis. Therefore, human gut microbiota-associated IL-10−/− mice were orally subjected to synthetic menthol starting a week before C. jejuni infection and followed up until day 6 post-infection. Whereas menthol pretreatment did not improve campylobacteriosis symptoms, it resulted in reduced colonic C. jejuni numbers and alleviated both macroscopic and microscopic aspects of C. jejuni infection in pretreated mice vs. controls. Menthol pretreatment dampened the recruitment of macrophages, monocytes, and T lymphocytes to colonic sites of infection, which was accompanied by mitigated intestinal nitric oxide secretion. Furthermore, menthol pretreatment had only marginal effects on the human fecal gut microbiota composition during the C. jejuni infection. In conclusion, the results of this preclinical placebo-controlled intervention study provide evidence that menthol application constitutes a promising way to tackle acute campylobacteriosis, thereby reducing the risk for post-infectious complications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Value of Natural Compounds as Therapeutic Agents II)
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16 pages, 2875 KiB  
Article
Prophylactic Oral Application of Activated Charcoal Mitigates Acute Campylobacteriosis in Human Gut Microbiota-Associated IL-10−/− Mice
by Markus M. Heimesaat, Niklas Schabbel, Luis Q. Langfeld, Nizar W. Shayya, Soraya Mousavi and Stefan Bereswill
Biomolecules 2024, 14(2), 141; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14020141 - 23 Jan 2024
Viewed by 990
Abstract
The incidence of human Campylobacter jejuni infections is increasing worldwide. It is highly desirable to prevent campylobacteriosis in individuals at risk for severe disease with antibiotics-independent non-toxic compounds. Activated charcoal (AC) has long been used as an anti-diarrheal remedy. Here, we tested the [...] Read more.
The incidence of human Campylobacter jejuni infections is increasing worldwide. It is highly desirable to prevent campylobacteriosis in individuals at risk for severe disease with antibiotics-independent non-toxic compounds. Activated charcoal (AC) has long been used as an anti-diarrheal remedy. Here, we tested the disease-mitigating effects of oral AC versus placebo in human gut microbiota-associated (hma) IL-10−/− mice starting a week prior to C. jejuni infection. On day 6 post-infection, the gastrointestinal C. jejuni loads were comparable in both infected cohorts, whereas campylobacteriosis symptoms such as wasting and bloody diarrhea were mitigated upon AC prophylaxis. Furthermore, AC application resulted in less pronounced C. jejuni-induced colonic epithelial cell apoptosis and in dampened innate and adaptive immune cell responses in the colon that were accompanied by basal concentrations of pro-inflammatory mediators including IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and nitric oxide measured in colonic explants from AC treated mice on day 6 post-infection. Furthermore, C. jejuni infection resulted in distinct fecal microbiota shift towards higher enterobacterial numbers and lower loads of obligate anaerobic species in hma mice that were AC-independent. In conclusion, our pre-clinical placebo-controlled intervention study provides evidence that prophylactic oral AC application mitigates acute murine campylobacteriosis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Value of Natural Compounds as Therapeutic Agents II)
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Review

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14 pages, 1511 KiB  
Review
Curcumin and Resveratrol: Nutraceuticals with so Much Potential for Pseudoachondroplasia and Other ER-Stress Conditions
by Karen L. Posey
Biomolecules 2024, 14(2), 154; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom14020154 - 27 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1277
Abstract
Natural products with health benefits, nutraceuticals, have shown considerable promise in many studies; however, this potential has yet to translate into widespread clinical use for any condition. Notably, many drugs currently on the market, including the first analgesic aspirin, are derived from plant [...] Read more.
Natural products with health benefits, nutraceuticals, have shown considerable promise in many studies; however, this potential has yet to translate into widespread clinical use for any condition. Notably, many drugs currently on the market, including the first analgesic aspirin, are derived from plant extracts, emphasizing the historical significance of natural products in drug development. Curcumin and resveratrol, well-studied nutraceuticals, have excellent safety profiles with relatively mild side effects. Their long history of safe use and the natural origins of numerous drugs contrast with the unfavorable reputation associated with nutraceuticals. This review aims to explore the nutraceutical potential for treating pseudoachondroplasia, a rare dwarfing condition, by relating the mechanisms of action of curcumin and resveratrol to molecular pathology. Specifically, we will examine the curcumin and resveratrol mechanisms of action related to endoplasmic reticulum stress, inflammation, oxidative stress, cartilage health, and pain. Additionally, the barriers to the effective use of nutraceuticals will be discussed. These challenges include poor bioavailability, variations in content and purity that lead to inconsistent results in clinical trials, as well as prevailing perceptions among both the public and medical professionals. Addressing these hurdles is crucial to realizing the full therapeutic potential of nutraceuticals in the context of pseudoachondroplasia and other health conditions that might benefit. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Value of Natural Compounds as Therapeutic Agents II)
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